Business-Card Sized Chip Detects HIV on the Spot

Dvice recently reported on the development of a business card-sized biochip created by scientists at the University of Illinois and Daktari Diagnostics that can scan for HIV and provide accurate T-cell counts. The thin, microfluidics lab-on-a-chip can take a small amount of fluid such as a drop of blood and process the white blood cells in a protein-filled chamber where sensors count the T cells. A small battery-powered device then reads the chip's results. The mobile device reader costs approximately $1,000 to manufacture and the test costs approximately $10, so the technology could be a good alternative for poorer areas of the world that do not have ready access to other HIV testing procedures. Plans are underway to commercialize the technology so field testing can begin soon.

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